NICHOLAS CHAYKOVSKY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 124, 18 February 1908, Page 8

NICHOLAS CHAYKOVSKY.

, -'Commenting*"editorially• on tho arrest of. M; Nicholas Chaykovsky,. the- 1 "Standard" says

It would bo a graceful act, and much appreciated by the• Jiinglish.-people, if. the -Tsar would order tho immediate -release of M. Nicholas Chaykovsky. • \That'. distinguished scholar ; and philantropist is well-known and highly osteqmed ill - this' country. -.It was, therefore, with equal surprise and regret that; tho -news was received of his ' haying been arrested, and thrown into the -Peter [ and Paul prison. There is here no doubt as to his ■ innoconco of any serious offenco.-, ■' Certainly ho has never been ■ implicated in any assassination plot. -He- left Russia in 1874, before any • Torrorist movement had boon started, and since that time,-except for soven- years spent in Now York; has lived quietly with his family in. the neighbourhood of London. His chief activity in connection with Russia has been tho collection and distribution of reliof for'sufferers in the gaols or penal settlements. . Beforo he came to England lie was occupied, not in stirring up sedition, but -simply in educating tho peasants, by means of classes for reading arid writing. His original research, in chomiitry has been considerable, but it is mainly by Ilia sterling character and charming qualities that ho has won tho affection- and good, opinion of so many Eriglish people who Have no sympathy- with tho aims of tho revolutionary parties in Russia. ; Relying upon tho amnesty declared at tho end of-1906, M. Chaykovsky returned to Russia, in tho hope of- witnessing tho era of enfranchisement inaugurated by tho Tsar Nicholas. - Almost a stranger in. his own land, if ho committed some breabh of tho Russian laws, his: English friends, are unanimous in believing that tho fault -was ono of inadvertency.- They feel quito certain that ho would not-wilfully assist in anjr disloyal or. disturbing- movement. It' is,' -therefore, ; hoped that' tho Tsar will exhibit his distinguished cleriienc'y' in restoring M. Chaykovsky. to his family in England. M. Stolypin.is both.a sagacious and humano Minister, and wo feel .no doubt that ho will offer this advice to his Imporial master. '